AUGUST 4, 1861

Caller Bob stopped Promenade in front of Jacy's home. He had been in town looking for Jacy or Jewel in order to put a help wanted ad in the paper, but he couldn't find either one, so he decided to try to find them or at least one of them at their home.

Melissa was sitting on the front porch steps. She didn't even greet him when Caller Bob arrived. Caller Bob knew there must be something wrong. He dismounted and stood in front of the porch. "Is something wrong, Melissa?" Melissa shook her head and didn't say a word. "You know you can always talk to me. We're still good friends aren't we?" He tilted his head waiting for a reply. Melissa looked up and nodded. "Then talk to me, maybe I can help." Melissa frowned and looked down at the steps. "At least I can try to help you solve your problem. I'm not doing very well with my own. It would make me feel better if I could help somebody with their problem."

"You have a problem?" Melissa looked back up at Caller Bob. She wondered how he could have a problem.

"Yeah, I've lost some men. They quit, and I need replacements, but I haven't found any yet. That's why I'm here. I want Jacy to put an ad in the paper for me."

"Well, I don't really have a problem." Melissa told him.

"Ok, so then why do you look so glum?" Caller Bob put one foot up on a step and leaned over to wait for Melissa's answer.

"I'm feeling glum because Jake is dead."

"Why?" Caller Bob knew what had happened with Jake, Jacy and Cody. He knew that Jake was a bad guy, so why should Melissa be so glum about him being gone? He didn't understand.

"Because it was my fault." Melissa replied.

"How do you figure that?" Caller Bob inquired.

Jewel opened the front door and stood there. Caller Bob and Melissa didn't know that she was there.

"If I hadn't been so mean to him, he wouldn't have taken off with Jacy, and then he wouldn't be dead." Melissa informed him.

"But Melissa, that's all wrong." Jewel came out of the doorway. "It wasn't your fault. It was mine. He didn't take Jacy because of you. He took her because of me."

Melissa was baffled, "What do you mean?"

"Jake thought Jacy was me when he took her. He hated me because I got him fired as a teacher back East. So Melissa please don't think it was your fault. It wasn't. He was a horrible man. He liked all girls. He went after them. I just wasn't interested in him, and he tried to hurt me, so I got him fired. So don't be sad or blame yourself for his death. It was all his doing. He deserved it." Jewel placed her hand on Melissa's head, reiterating, "It wasn't your fault."

"Melissa," Caller Bob reached down and took her hand, pulling her to her feet. "Sweet Melissa, it wasn't your fault. So forget it and have some fun." He pulled her close and gave her a big 'yellow rock' -- a hug. "I bet Michael would like to see you. Go on, go ride over and see if he wants to go fishing." He let her go.

Melissa smiled at Caller Bob. "I hope you find some help." She headed to the barn to get Braids.

"What did she mean by that?" Jewel watched Melissa walk to the barn. She hoped that Melissa would forget about Jake now that she had told her that she was the one to blame for Jacy's abduction.

"I need to put an ad in the paper. I need some more help at the farm." Caller Bob turned back from watching Melissa to look at Jewel.

"Well, I was just heading into town to work on the paper. If you want to you can ride in with me." She walked down the steps and then she had another idea before Caller Bob answered her. "Or you can talk to Jacy about your ad. She could use some company." Jewel passed Caller Bob and headed to the barn to saddle Justice.

Caller Bob hadn't seen Jacy in a while. A visit with her sounded nice. "I think I'll stay and visit with Jacy for a while." He wondered if there was anything wrong with Jacy since Jewel had suggested that he stay.

"You can go on in. Jacy's in the kitchen fixing some lemonade." Jewel called from a far.

Caller Bob had a nice visit with Jacy. There didn't seem to be anything wrong with her, or she was a very good pretender. Jacy assisted him with his 'help wanted' ad, and then they both decided to ride into Dreamville together. Jacy went to the PEG, and Caller Bob went to the saloon.